2014 Open Doors Press Briefing Washington DC

On November 17, 2014, the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs released the latest statistics and trends on international students in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad from the new Open Doors 2014 Report on International Educational Exchange.

Open Doors Briefing at the National Press Club

The Open Doors findings were the topic of a briefing on November 17 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, with Assistant Secretary of State Evan M. Ryan, in conjunction with the worldwide observance of International Education Week. The event included a presentation of the data and a lively conversation about international education among the assembled group of more than 100 educators, U.S. and foreign government representatives, international associations, and members of the press.

Listen to the briefing presentation

A Message from Asst. Secretary of State Evan M. Ryan

"International education is crucial to building relationships between people and communities in the United States and around the world. It is through these relationships that together we can solve global challenges like climate change, the spread of pandemic disease, and combatting violent extremism,” said Evan M. Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “Only by engaging multiple perspectives within our societies can we all reap the numerous benefits of international education - increased global competence, self-awareness and resiliency, and the ability to compete in the 21st century economy"

Watch Secretary Ryan Discuss Open Doors and International Exchange

International Student Data

The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by eight percent to a record high of 886,052 students in the 2013/14 academic year. confirming once again that the United States remains the destination of choice for higher education. The United States hosts more of the world’s 4.5 million globally mobile college and university students than any other country in the world, with almost double the number hosted by the United Kingdom, the second leading host country.

Watch IIE's Rajika Bhandari discuss International Student Data

U.S. Study Abroad

The number of U.S. students who studied abroad for academic credit increased by two percent to 289,408 students in 2013/12, a slightly lower rate of growth than the three percent increase the previous year. Study abroad by American students has more than tripled over the past two decades. Despite these increases, fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. college students study abroad at some point during their undergraduate years.

Watch briefing on U.S. study abroad data

New Data and highlights on Open Doors website

On the Open Doors website, you can access the new data from Open Doors 2014, the annual report on student mobility, as well as press releases and background information to help explain the trends. Open Doors contains extensive data and analysis on numbers of foreign students and scholars on U.S. campuses and American students studying abroad, and is supported by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

On the Open Doors page, you can also access the results of a Fall 2014 International Enrollment survey that IIE conducted jointly with seven other major higher education organizations.